Combined bowling practice device and furniture



Sept. 25, 1962 H. s. DARWIN 3,055,704

COMBINED BOWLING PRACTICE DEVICE AND FURNITURE Filed July 20, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Helen .5. Darwin INVENTOR.

Sept. 25, 1 962 H. s. DARWIN 3,055,704

COMBINED BOWLING PRACTICE DEVICE AND FURNITURE Filed July 20, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Helen 5. Darwin INVENTOR.

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Sept. 25, 1962 H. s. DARWIN 3,055,704

COMBINED BOWLING PRACTICE DEVICE AND FURNITURE Filed July 20, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet s Helen 5. Darwin INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,055,704 COMBINED BOWLING PRACTICE DEVICE AND FURNITURE Helen S. Darwin, 2806 Eide St, Anchorage, Alaska Filed July 20, 1960, Ser. No. 44,168 4 Claims. (Cl. 297118) The present invention generally relates to a bowling practice device which may be employed in the home and which may be used as an article of furniture, converted to an article of furniture, separated and used as two articles of furniture thus aflording a utilitarian device which not only provides for practicing bowling but also provides a utilitarian article of furniture.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a combined bowling practice device and an article of furniture that includes a relatively elongated inverted box-like member simulating a shortened bowling alley together with an open ended member having two sides and one end thereof closed and padded for simulating a pit or ball receiving area of a bowling alley which also may be used as a chair or the like, the elongated member being capable of use as a bench or the like. Each of the components of the practice device are provided with folded legs for supporting the practice device in elevated position when employed as furniture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bowling practice device generally in the form of a shortened alley which has a padding on the top surface thereof and a padding for receiving the impact of the ball and returning the ball towards the end of the device from which the ball approached the padded upstanding end thereof. The present invention permits the device to be placed against the wall or other suitable support so that it cannot be moved longitudinally and then a bowling ball from 9 to 16 pounds may be applied when practicing bowling on the present invention. This will develop the main features of bowling, namely, correct push away, pendulum swing, time and point of release, follow through and the correct hand position through the delivery and release. Also, this will enable a person to practice his stance and an unhurried smooth approach so that the approach can be made in a straight line and balance can be developed. This also will enable a person to perfect the type of ball that is rolled and the ball will be returned each time. If the various features which can be practiced with this device are developed fully, this permits the person to relax and concentrate solely on accuracy when actually bowling thus enabling higher scores to be accomplished.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bowling practice device which is simple in construction, easy to use,'easy to convert from a bowling practice device to an article of furniture and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combined bowling practice device and furniture of the present invention illustrating the device used as a bowling practice device;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the end unit of the present invention employed as a chair or the like;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the elongated alley forming unit employed as a bench or the like;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the bench illustrating the structure thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view of the bench 3,055,754 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 "Ice illustrating further structural details thereof including the means for attachment to the end members;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the bolt for retaining the two sections of the device of the present invention in assembled relation;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the end member illustrating the orientation of the legs thereof when folded into collapsed condition;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken generally upon a longitudinal center line of the end member; and

FIGURE 9 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 99 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the connection between the elongated member and the end member forming the sections of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the combined bowling practice device and furniture of the present invention which is constructed of two sections including an elongated member forming the alley generally designated by the numeral 12 and an end member forming the pit area generally designated by numeral 14 for receiving a bowling ball 16. The elongated alley forming member 12 may be employed separately as a bench as illustrated in FIGURE 3 while the ball receiving member or pit forming member 14 may be used separately as a chair as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The elongated member 12 includes a generally rectangular board or plate 18 which may be conveniently constructed of any suitable material such as plywood or the like together with a depending perimetric flange 20 extending along the side and end edges thereof. Disposed on the top surface of the board 18 is a cushion or pad 22 of resilient material such as foam rubber or the like. The pad 22 is provided with a cover of plastic sheeting 24 or any other similar material having the edges thereof extending downwardly over the edges of the cushion or pad 22 and terminally secured to the edges of the board 18.

Pivotally mounted on pivot bolts 26 are corner legs 28 each having a rounded upper and outer corner 30 and each being provided with a folding brace 32 having one end anchored to the leg 28 and having the other end anchored to a bracket 34 on the undersurface of the plate 18 thus enabling the folding of the legs 28 into underlying relation to the board 18. When it is desired to fold the legs 28, it is only necessary to break the folding brace 32 for folding movement thereof as the corner legs 2e are moved inwardly to collapsed position. The sheeting or cover 24 may be of any suitable material and is attached to the board or plate 18 by suitable fastening means such as upholstery tacks or nails.

Each end flange 20 is provided with a pair of stud fasteners 36 having threads 38 on one end and threads 40 on the other end. The threads 38 receive the wing nut 42 while the threads 40 receive an acorn nut 44 which enables mounting of the bolt 36 but prevents tightening thereof except by employment of the wing nut '42. The purpose of one set of bolts 36 will be explained hereinafter and the other set is provided for ornamentation and a balanced appearance.

The end section 14 is illustrated in detail in FIGURES 7 and 8 and includes a bottom board or plate 46 having a depending perimetric flange 48 thereon having a plurality of pivotal legs 50 attached thereto by pivot bolts 52 or the like which enables pivotal movement of the leg 50 between a retracted and extended position. Folding braces 54 are provided, each leg Sll having a brace 54;- connected thereto and connected to the bottom plate 46. Two of the legs 50 are provided with spacer blocks 56 for spacing them inwardly of the other pair of legs thus assuring proper room for the legs 50 when folded within the confines of the flange 48.

The top surface of the member 46 is provided with a cushion 58 of foam rubber or the like having a plastic cover sheet 60 extending thereover and attached to the flanges 48 or the bottom 46.

Attached to the rear edge of the bottom 46 and also the rear flange 48 is a rear wall 62 having a cushion or pad 64- of resilient material such as foam rubber or the like and also covered with a facing sheet of plastic 66 or the like. The side edges of the bottom 46 and the side flanges 48 have a side wall member 68 attached thereto having a rounded upper edge 70 of generally arcuate configuration which extends downwardly substantially to the top of the bottom pad 58. The side Wall members 68 are also padded and provided with a covering sheet 72 having the edge thereof attached to the outer surface of the side wall members 68 as by fastening upholstery tacks 74 or the like.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the manner in which the sections 12 and 14 are secured together. The depending flange 20 at one end of the section .12 receives the fastening bolts 36 with the Wing nuts 42 on the inner ends thereof. The other end of the bolt members 36 have the acorn nut 44 thereon which securely retains the sections 12 and 14 in detachable alignment.

Thus, with the present invention, the device may be used as a bowling practice device, as a bench as illustrated in FIGURE 3, as a chair illustrated in FIGURE 2 and as a lounge in the condition illustrated in FIGURE 1 or in the condition with the sections 12 and 14 secured together but with the legs extended.

By cushioning the top surface of the bottom forming members and the inner surfaces of the upstanding rear and side walls, the movement of the ball will be cushioned and the ball will be returned due to the resiliency of the pad material.

The dimensions of the device may vary. The padding on the bottom members should preferably be about two inches thick and constructed of foam rubber or the like and the padding on the upstanding rear wall should be four inches thick and of foam rubber. The foam rubber padding should be lined with batting on the top or inner surface thereof and the entire pad is then completely covered with the plastic clothback cover. The various corners are preferably mitered and are glued and nailed in the nature of furniture construction. As an example of the dimensions, the bench or alley section may be 36 inches long and 20 inches wide. The other section is preferably 20 inches wide by 20 inches long. The side members are preferably 20 inches wide and 18 inches high with arcuately curved top edges and the side walls are provided with two inch foam padding lined with batting and covered with the plastic clothback covering. The back wall is also 20 inches wide and 18 inches high and the back wall is provided with a four inch foam rubber padding in the same manner as the other pads. The padding on the back wall and side walls are beveled where they meet with the padding on the bottom and in relation to each other thus forming a continuous padding.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those 4. skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combined bowling practice device and furniture, comprising an elongated rectangular member provided with a perimetric depending flange, a set of corner legs pivotally attached to the flange of said rectangular member for movement between a downwardly projected position wherein said rectangular member forms a table and a retracted position within the confines of said flange wherein said rectangular member forms a bowling alley, a second member provided with a perimetric depending flange and with upstanding side and back walls, a set of corner legs pivotally attached to the flange of said second member for movement between a downwardly projected position wherein said second member forms a chair and a retracted position within the confines of said last mentioned flange wherein said second member forms a ball receiving section and a back stop at one end of the rectangular member when the latter is used as a bowling alley, and means separably attaching said second member to one end of the rectangular member, the top of said rectangular member and the top of the seat portion of the chair forming member being substantially coplanar, whereby the assembly may be used selectively for bowling purposes and as furniture.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with padded covering provided on top of said rectangular member, on top of said second member and on the inside surfaces of said upstanding side and back walls of the second member.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim -1 together with padded covering provided on top of said rectangular member, on top of said second member and on the inside surfaces of said upstanding side and back walls of the second member, the padded covering on the back wall being substantially thicker than the covering on the side walls.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said separable attaching means comprise threaded studs extending through registering apertures in the flanges of said rectangular and second members, and nuts provided at the ends of said studs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 831,802 Sayre Sept. 25, 1906 985,561 Wehner Feb. 28, 1911 1,628,844 Houser May 17, 1927 1,728,009 Schuldt Sept. 10, 1929 1,879,673 Fischer Sept. 27, 1932 1,976,567 Kovats Oct. 9, 1934 1,976,932 Forsberg Oct. 16, 1934 2,209,729 Hornung July 30, 1940 2,512,516 Bluford June 20, 1950 2,754,888 Palme July 17, 1956 2,754,890 Rubin July 17, 1956 

